The Digital Scholar

  What is the refractive index? The refractive index is a measure of how much light bends when it passes from one medium into another. It is the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in the medium. What is the principle behind using a concave mirror to measure the refractive index of water? The principle involves measuring the real and apparent depth of an object submerged in water. The refractive index can be calculated using the formula n = Real depth Apparent depth n = \frac{\text{Real depth}}{\text{Apparent depth}} n = Apparent depth Real depth ​ . What apparatus and materials are required for this experiment? The experiment requires a concave mirror, a beaker of water, a needle or pin, a ruler, and a stand to hold the needle or pin. How do you set up the experiment? Place the concave mirror at the bottom of the beaker filled with water. Suspend a needle or pin vertically above the mirror, and adjust its position until its image is clearly visible in the mir